Proposed new part-day Public Holidays for South Australians the first in decades, says SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas.

Subject to legislative approval, South Australians are set to enjoy their first new public holidays in decades, thanks to an historic agreement between the SDA, Business SA and the State Government.

Under the proposed agreement, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 5pm would become new public holidays for every South Australian worker.

“The creation of the public holidays from 5pm on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve means the majority of South Australian workers can freely choose not to work and go home to family or friends - or to work and enjoy significant penalty rates,” Peter said.

As part of this arrangement, trading from 11am to 5pm will be allowed in the CBD (Rundle Mall) on all public holidays except Christmas Day, Good Friday and before midday on Anzac Day. Again, workers will have the absolute right to choose if they work those hours – if they choose to work, they will receive penalty rates of up to 250%.

 “This is a real benefit to all retail workers who are often the last people standing on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve when they’re working at a time when the majority of South Australians have already began celebrating,” Peter said.

“Rest assured that strict provisions are in place to ensure work during public holiday trading is strictly voluntary and the SDA will work overtime to make sure protections are in place to ensure workers are not forced to work against their will.”

The SDA is calling on the SA Parliament to legislate this new Agreement as soon as possible so workers can receive the benefit of the public holidays by Christmas 2012.
Christmas 2011 Trading Hours include trading on December 27th across South Australia. Trading will be allowed on January 2nd and January 26th in Rundle Mall only.

Wages are up for Australia's
retail workers

The SDA consistently wins real wage increases which are over and above Modern Award rates and inflation for our members.

Australia's retail workers are among the highest-paid in the world and the SDA's hard work on behalf of members ensures SDA members enjoy fair working conditions and regular pay rises.

SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas said the SDA makes no apology for winning higher wages and entitlements such as penalty rates for members through Enterprise bargaining.

"But it's worth remembering that good wages and conditions don't happen by chance," he said.

"When a workplace Agreement is due to be negotiated in the retail, fast food or warehouse industries, the SDA works hard to deliver the best possible deal and pay rises for our members – every time."

The Productivity Commission recently concluded that Australia's minimum hourly rate for workers in the retail industry "is clearly high by comparison with other developed countries."

In the United States and throughout Asia, there are essentially no penalty rates for working shifts or weekends. This is in stark contrast to the conditions of Australian retail workers.

The SDA will always work hard to ensure their entitlements never slip away and that our members can rest easy knowing they will be looked after.
"Negotiating better wages and conditions is our core business and we'll continue to win higher wages for our valued members," Peter said.

SDA Info Hotline hours extended

Got a problem? Need advice? Ring the SDA Info Hotline!

(08) 8139 1000

This popular Hotline is now open longer hours:
SDA members can now call the confidential Hotline between 8.30am and 9pm Monday – Friday and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas said the extension of the Telephone Hotline reflects the SDA's commitment to members and their welfare.

"SDA Information Officers are ready and waiting to take your call and members can also email their queries via sda.com.au," he said.

Peter said the SDA is already available 24/7 to members through exclusive access to sda.com.au, the official website of the SDA which contains invaluable snapshots of every SDA member's wage rates, pay rise dates, annual and personal leave, overtime and penalty rates and public holiday entitlements.

"The website made a big difference to our members and now, we're improving our service even more with extended telephone advice," Peter said.

Cutting wages no answer
to retail downturn

Cutting wages and conditions and allowing 24/7 shopping will not solve the current downturn in retail, says SDA Secretary Peter Malinauskas.

Peter said recent claims by the Productivity Commission that deregulating shopping hours and ensuring less reliance on enterprise agreements were "flawed."

"Slashing wages and conditions and making employees work on public holiday will not improve the efficiency of the retail industry," he said.

Peter said retail sales are down because Australians are saving more and although consumer confidence is currently low, there is no reason to believe retail sales won't pick up.

"It's worth remembering that many retailers are doing well and their profits are increasing," he said. "Monthly retail sales rose in July by a seasonally adjusted 0.5%."
Peter said regular and fair pay rises skilfully negotiated by the SDA put more money into the pockets of retail, fast food and warehouse workers and, therefore, into the economy.

Productivity Commission submissions highlight that Australian retail workers are highly paid in comparison with the rest of the world – and this is the result of the SDA's hard work and expertise in negotiating enterprise agreements for members.

"The SDA's core business is negotiating the best pay rises and conditions possible for our members and we'll continue to do so," Peter said.

"When it comes to trading hours, it's nonsense to suggest that deregulating shopping hours in Adelaide and depriving retail workers of their right to public holidays will magically conjure up more money for consumers to spend."

Shops were already open 355 days of the year and few retailers in metropolitan Adelaide were taking advantage of their right to open until 9pm weeknights.

Peter said the retail industry must be dynamic and continue to value and enhance the vital role customer service plays in the success of the industry – and customer service can only be delivered by well-paid retail workers.

"Good customer service is what differentiates bricks and mortar retails from internet shopping. Retailers can also innovate and enhance customer experience by making customer service a 'point of difference' between them and their internet competitors," he said.